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This is a pretty easy poll, since it makes perfect sense that beginners focus on building a kind of foundation. Those of us who managed to blunder into a really good dojo at the beginning of our aikido journey thank our lucky stars.

Well there are exemptions, when there is a sensei, teaching a few times a week at one place and some other days at another place. While some people could argue, it is the same dojo, just another location, even if they are different clubs sharing one instructor.

In general it is easy to say that absolute beginners better start in one dojo and add additional views on aikido later, if any.

It would be much more interesting, when at earliest you would suggest a student to train in different dojo, given he is talented and lets say the reason is that both dojo just offer 3 classes a week and (s)he seeks for more.

Have a year, 2 years, after shodan?

I know some of you have good arguments for just sticking to one sensei as long as possible.

So I just ask those, who would accept training elsewhere.

My personal opinion is that after 6 to 12 month, one could be able to deal with different approaches. If they have totally different styles and insist both in doing exactly the footwork as taught,waiting longer could be even counterproductive, as the firmer one style is in your body the harder it is to switch instantaneously.

I second what Peter said, you cannot get enough Tai sabaki!! Also I have found shadow techniques have worked pretty nicely.
If you now the instructor from another Dojo, then maybe a good idea but if he is someone who your instructor might not now personally or of a different system; might not be a good idea. It might give you brain overload.
Wayne

I would think there are benefits and drawbacks. Seeing as how there are benefits, whether or not they outnumber the drawbacks, it is therefore beneficial in whatever capacity. So, answering the poll with infallible logic (as I always do), I must answer Yes.

I personally recommend that my students visit other dojo's so that they get an all round picture of what's around. Those that like to train hard usually find that other dojo's seem to be lacking in some quarter's in my area and usually return saying they feel more at home where they first started. In my early days I often went dojo hopping and found good and bad and I have to say that the good were in the minority. Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer chance!
To all I say go where you feel most comfortable.